By Jim Clark

Police were summoned to the T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods at the Assembly Square Marketplace last week on reports of a shoplifter in the process of stealing merchandise.

Upon arrival, store security personnel informed the officers that the suspect, later identified as Keesha Vickers, of Brockton, was confronted about the merchandise but refused to cooperate and kept walking away.

Police caught up with Vickers as she proceeded along Artisan Way, reportedly observed carrying three handbags. When asked to stop by the officers she reportedly told them, “I ain’t talking to you until the real cops show up!”

The officers nonetheless detained Vickers for questioning and a search of her belongings. She was reportedly found to be in possession of three handbags with store tags and security sensors attached to them. The total value of the handbags in her possession was quoted as $389.97.

Vickers was placed under arrest on a charge of larceny over $250 and taken in for booking.

While being taken through the booking process, Vickers reportedly set off the metal detector as she passed through it. Upon closer examination, police determined that there was a security sensor attached to the pants that Vickers was wearing.

Police reported that Vickers was uncooperative and refused to take off the pants. She reportedly told them, “The pants are stolen, so what? I didn’t take them from that store.”

While placed in a holding cell, female officers were eventually able to cut the security device off of Vickers’ pants.